The realization hit Eric with devastating force.

“Colleen?” Hadley entered the law firm and found Colleen standing outside Zane’s office.

“Hadley?” Colleen paused in surprise before her face lit up with recognition. “Did Zane ask you to come here?”

“Yes,” Hadley replied with a warm smile. “He asked me to come finalize some paperwork.”

“Let’s go in together.” Colleen linked her arm with Hadley’s and opened the door as they stepped inside.

She continued chatting, “I spent the whole day shopping with my mother. She’s at the salon now, so I’m just passing the time. Oh, and I bought Zane a tie, so I thought I’d deliver it and try to convince him to take us out to lunch.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” Hadley said, smiling and nodding in approval.

“You’re up to something, aren’t you? I can already tell!” Zane lifted his gaze from his desk as the two women entered, laughing and talking. He extended his hand expectantly. “Let me see this tie. If it doesn’t impress me, lunch is off the table.”

“Are you sure?” Colleen raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed. “Well, you’ll have to explain that decision to your aunt. I’m fine either way.”

Zane’s aunt, of course, was Colleen’s mother.

“You little schemer!” Zane laughed, shaking his head as he accepted the tie and placed it on his desk. He turned to Hadley and nodded at her. “Hadley, please sit down. Don’t mind Colleen—she’s just here to get a free meal. Let’s focus on business.”

“Hey!” Colleen wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out playfully at her cousin.

“Alright,” Hadley said, unable to suppress her smile as she sat down.

“I’ve got something for you,” Zane said, pulling a thick stack of papers from a filing cabinet and laying them in front of Hadley. “Everything’s been taken care of. Just go over them carefully, and if you don’t find any issues, you can sign.”

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“Understood.” Hadley began reviewing the documents, carefully checking each page.

Meanwhile, Zane positioned himself across from her, sliding open a side drawer to retrieve a box of gum.

“Zane?” Colleen’s keen eyes immediately detected the motion. “What are you eating? Are you hoarding treats? Hadley and I are sitting right here, you know.”

“What do you mean by ‘hoarding treats’?” Zane reached over and gently tapped Colleen’s head. “It’s just gum. Would you like some?” Follow current nov?ls on Find?Novel.net

“Absolutely!” Colleen extended her hand, and Zane placed two pieces into her palm.

He then turned his attention to Hadley. “Hadley, would you like some?”

“No, thank you.” Hadley offered a gracious smile as she declined with a gentle shake of her head.

Despite being cousins, their bond was as strong as that of biological siblings. Colleen seemed to be a cherished princess, pampered with abundant family love, her life flowing smoothly without turbulence. Perhaps this explained her refreshingly honest and compassionate nature.

Such fortune deserved admiration.

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